Good news for pilgrims; survey for 4-laning of Indore-Icchapur soon

DNA

Nov 21, 2012, 04:04 AM IST

Indore: Good news for pilgrims to the Jyotirlinga of Omkareshwar and commuters who suffer traffic jams on Khandwa road. MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) has sanctioned a survey for 4-laning of Indore-Icchapur highway.

MPRDC officials hinted that search is on for hiring an agency/company for carrying out Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing a straighter route sans the bends of the 'ghats' at with a cost of `1,500 crore.

Process of selecting of agency would be undertaken as per international norms. Presently there is a massive 'ghat section called Bheru ghat and two smaller ones en route when coming down from the Malwa plateau to the Nimar plain. The DPR would also list all private, Nazul and forest lands, which, if needed, may be acquired.

Satish Kumar, chief general manager, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said, "Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has assigned the authority to develop select stretches of national highways in the state to MPRDC. The MPRDC has decided to undertake four-laning of Indore-Icchapur (SH-27) having length of 203 km through Public, Private, Partnership (PPP) on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis".

Other allied agencies have begun cooperating in

implementation of this four laning project. Construction of high level bridge across river Tapti at Km. 184/16 on Indore - Burhanpur - Ichapur road in Madhya Pradesh through client Viva Highways Pvt. Ltd., Nasik has already been given by Madhya Pradesh Setu Nirman Nigam.